What can £5K get you?

[VladtheImpala]

Hello.

Everyone's favourite game, what car would you buy with a budget of £5k to use as a weekend/non stripped out track car?

What I've found so far:

Renaultsport Megane
Clio 182
Corsa VXR
Astra VXR
Mini Cooper s
Audi TT 3.2
Audi S3
Focus ST
BMW 135i
Golf VR6
Golf R32

A reasonable list I reckon, but perhaps I've forgotten about one or two offerings from other brands which could be this cheap?

Also, I have driven/owned a TT 3.2, 182, Cooper S and 135i in the past. The Audi 3.2 engine is in a few of the list above, I'm not sure how I feel about that, given it's chain-driven and if that goes, you'll most likely be better off buying another car.

I have never driven the others, so am curious what your opinions of what they're like are.

As usual, any advice/stories/mockery is welcome!

[robertdon777]

Just sold a mint (and I do mean mint - not Internet mint) 335D e92 for £3500

172K miles but only 2 owners and all the history at BMW til 4 years old then with HughesBrothers BMW, full new SACHS OEM suspension and running like a dream.....

Better than any of those hot hatches, just drop an LSD in it and have lots of track fun...340bhp and limited to 700nm, was very pokey (0-100mph in less than 13 on dragy) and great on Fuel.

[plenty]

The problem with these sorts of threads is that everyone likes different things so you end up with a bunch of superficial and random opinions and no actual insight.

If you value RWD and grunt above deftness and precision, then a 335D may indeed be 'better than any of those hot hatches.' For me a diesel which weighs 1,650 kgs and drives like a blunt sledgehammer would never be in consideration.

[WIWs]

(Very biased as I own an R53 Mini cooper s)

one thing I would suggest (as this is the reason i have one) is that you're looking at the top end of the market R53 Mini cooper s for £3.5k-£4k whereas some of your other options you're looking at tatty bottom end of the market cars

as others have said and will continue to say it all depends what you're looking for, IMO the R53 mini has a really nice interior compared to the plastic st shows some of those other are, but if you're just going B road bashing on weekends who cares! the mini is one of the lower bhp options on your list so really you need to figure out what the most important features/attributes are to you and make a list based on that

Edited by WIWs on Thursday 22 September 12:29

[S600BSB]

Can you really get a R32 for £5k?

[WIWs]

Abarth 595 and Mazda MX5 are also missing from your list!

[The spinner of plates]

986 Porsche Boxster

[VladtheImpala]

plenty said:

The problem with these sorts of threads is that everyone likes different things so you end up with a bunch of superficial and random opinions and no actual insight.

If you value RWD and grunt above deftness and precision, then a 335D may indeed be 'better than any of those hot hatches.' For me a diesel which weighs 1,650 kgs and drives like a blunt sledgehammer would never be in consideration.

Same.

I should've said, those cars came from a specific search I did, 200hp+, 3 doors, manual, petrol, basically describing a Clio 182 but didn't want to limit it so much when asking here.

[VladtheImpala]

S600BSB said:

Can you really get a R32 for £5k?

Yes, but one you shouldn't be expecting to be proud of. I would expect it's fine for using 10 times a year on a track.

[VladtheImpala]

WIWs said:

(Very biased as I own an R53 Mini cooper s)

one thing I would suggest (as this is the reason i have one) is that you're looking at the top end of the market R53 Mini cooper s for £3.5k-£4k whereas some of your other options you're looking at tatty bottom end of the market cars

as others have said and will continue to say it all depends what you're looking for, IMO the R53 mini has a really nice interior compared to the plastic st shows some of those other are, but if you're just going B road bashing on weekends who cares! the mini is one of the lower bhp options on your list so really you need to figure out what the most important features/attributes are to you and make a list based on that

Edited by WIWs on Thursday 22 September 12:29

I own a classic Mini so I am biased too, against the new versions. Saying that, I've driven a Cooper S for a bit too and did enjoy it, but I had much less exposure to other cars back then so couldn't compare it to much.

I've driven a John Cooper Works Paceman S whatever this year a few times too, and it's perhaps my least favourite car to have ever driven. I appreciate it's a different car to the Cooper S, but if the gearbox is even slightly similar to the Paceman (I expect they'd use the same one) then it's a huge no from me.

So a nice Cooper S or a dreadful Vauxhall. Seems like an easy choice right?

[VladtheImpala]

WIWs said:

Abarth 595 and Mazda MX5 are also missing from your list!

Tested a 2017 595 2 weeks ago. I was pleased with it but it was £15K, and felt that was a bit steep, even for a 20K mileage example.

It made a good noise and the gearbox was fun, but I've driven a normal 500 this year and goodness me it was poor, all round. I'd be worried a £5k 595 would be more like a 500 than what it was originally designed to be.

Could be the bargain of the year, but I've not seen a £5k one, they seem to be holding their value again.

[plenty]

VladtheImpala said:

I should've said, those cars came from a specific search I did, 200hp+, 3 doors, manual, petrol, basically describing a Clio 182 but didn't want to limit it so much when asking here.

That's still a massively broad church. I own two cars that fulfill all of those criteria, a Clio and a Z4 (ok the former is 180hp and the latter is two doors) but they could not be more different to drive.

[VladtheImpala]

The spinner of plates said:

986 Porsche Boxster

Good shout, haven't seen any for £5k and I don't think I'd want to spend so little on a Porsche.

There's an £8k restored 944 knocking about, but it's out of my price range sadly. If not, that would be it. Probably.

[VladtheImpala]

plenty said:

That's still a massively broad church. I own two cars that fulfill all of those criteria, a Clio and a Z4 (ok the latter is two doors) but they could not be more different to drive.

Yeah that's what I'm aiming for here, stuff which could fit in the broad criteria which hasn't come up and I haven't thought of.

Z4, that's an interesting idea.

[Swampy1982]

I came here to suggest a z4, but seems I've been beaten to it.

Will likely need suspension refresh and some non-run flats so budget for that when buying.

[VladtheImpala]

Swampy1982 said:

I came here to suggest a z4, but seems I've been beaten to it.

Will likely need suspension refresh and some non-run flats so budget for that when buying.

Yes, thought about getting a suspension refresh on my 135 so would make sense a tired Z4 could use it too.

But, it's a convertible. I've never rolled a car as I'm not from Warrington, but 'what if' scenarios pop up more if I imagine I'm in a convertible. I think I'd rather avoid a conv, as I would probably drive it less voraciously when compared to a hot hatch for example.

[Silvanus]

Here are a few unusual options to consider

Daihatsu Cuore (Mira) Avanzato TRXX 0.6turbo

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205296...

Fiat Coupe 20v Turbo

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203213...

Mitsubishi Colt 1.5T Ralliart

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208118...

Honda CR-X VTi

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107295...

MG ZS 2.5 V6 180 (half the budget)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207107...

Renault Twingo RS Gordini

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209169...

SEAT Ibiza Cupra Bocanegra

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206116...

[plenty]

VladtheImpala said:

But, it's a convertible. I've never rolled a car as I'm not from Warrington, but 'what if' scenarios pop up more if I imagine I'm in a convertible. I think I'd rather avoid a conv, as I would probably drive it less voraciously when compared to a hot hatch for example.

I've not crashed my Z4 but some years ago I had an up-close view of a Z4M involved in a horrific smash with a 996 Turbo which ended up with both cars written off and the Z4M upside down. Both drivers walked away unharmed.

Which as someone who also thinks a lot about passive safety (my Clio is fully caged) and felt too exposed in my MX-5, was one of the reasons I opted for an E85 Z4 myself.

Although I'd never consider taking it on track - it's not that kind of car.

[S600BSB]

The spinner of plates said:

986 Porsche Boxster

Not for £5k

[VladtheImpala]

S600BSB said:

Not for £5k

Agree, can imagine it would be very knackered if not a non-runner.